Skip to main content

How to Apply Behavioral Strategy Quickly #

Jason Hreha· Updated July 10, 2026

Use this page during discovery, pilots, and reviews.

The Behavior Fit Assessment is a practitioner decision tool for comparing candidate behaviors across Dispositional Fit, Capability Fit, and Context Fit. It is not a validated measurement instrument. Treat the minimum dimension as a bottleneck and prioritization heuristic; it is not a deterministic probability of behavior.

A score of 6 out of 10 on each Behavior Fit Assessment dimension is a starting threshold that must be calibrated by domain, population, context, stakes, and observed behavior.

Four Fits and Stop Rules #

1. Problem Market Fit

  • Users actively seek solutions, show workarounds, and pay in time or money
  • Stop if any is missing after field observation

2. Behavior Market Fit

  • Compare Dispositional Fit, Capability Fit, and Context Fit, then calibrate the screen and validate the candidate in realistic contexts
  • Use the Behavior Fit Assessment as the default screen; use BSM to diagnose the limiting factor
  • Stop if users want the outcome but avoid the behavior in a realistic trial

3. Solution Market Fit

  • Completion rate to spec in the pilot window with denominators explicit
  • TTFB compared with a target derived from the specific workflow and context
  • Stop or redesign when the solution does not enable the behavior under realistic conditions

4. Product Market Fit

  • Behavior retention at decision-relevant intervals, with denominators and cohorting
  • Organic expansion that can be attributed to behavior visibility or network value
  • Stop if retention depends on incentives not present in normal use

Canonical Metrics #

  • Δ-B (pp): Post% minus Baseline% for the target behavior
    Report denominators, window, sample, and assignment method
  • TTFB: Exposure to first completion time for the behavior
  • Behavior Retention: Share of a cohort performing the behavior at decision-relevant intervals. Define the intervals and repeat criteria for the domain; D30 and D180 are examples, not universal checkpoints
  • CRS: min(Buyer Readiness, Champion Readiness, User Readiness) over the pilot window
    Gate scale-up until CRS meets the domain threshold

Behavioral State Model #

The Behavioral State Model is a practitioner diagnostic model with six Personal Components: Personality, Perception, Emotions, Abilities, Social Status/Situation, and Motivations. It also includes two Context Components: the Social Environment and Physical Environment. The Behavioral State Model is a practitioner model, not a validated psychometric instrument or a universal prediction equation.

  • Use the eight components to organize evidence about possible constraints after selecting a behavior
  • Treat the apparent lowest component as a research and prioritization hypothesis, then verify it against observed behavior

Behavioral Selection #

Selection rule

  • Enumerate candidate behaviors.
  • Screen with the Behavior Fit Assessment, using a threshold calibrated for the domain and population.
  • Prioritize candidates with stronger minimum-dimension ratings, then compare expected outcome impact, evidence quality, measurement feasibility, and realistic trial results.

Common Failure Modes #

  • Wrong target behavior
  • Context misfit
  • Ability overestimation
  • Negative social externalities
  • TTFB too long
  • Incentive misalignment
  • Brittle reinforcement
  • Hidden costs

See the Evidence Ledger for sourced claims and cases.

See also #